"Division Emerges on Panel Determining Future of Hillsboro, Ore., Airport"

Monday, August 4, 2003

Division Emerges on Panel Determining Future of Hillsboro, Ore., Airport
The Oregonian


HILLSBORO, Ore.--The advisory committee overseeing the 20-year master plan
for the Hillsboro Airport is seriously divided, judging by the group's first
meeting. 

On one side, several members representing aviation and businesses want the
airport to consider adding commercial flights and cargo services. They want
the Port of Portland, the airport's operator, to examine the possibilities
of adding a third runway, a new terminal and more parking. 

"I think this airport can be a star attraction," said Ken Dyar, Hillsboro
Airport Business Association operations manager. "The airport badly needs a
facelift." 

On the other side, neighbors think the airport has become too busy and too
noisy. 

Henry Oberhelman, who represents Washington County Residents for Safe and
Quiet Skies on the committee, suggested the Port consider moving some of the
functions of the Hillsboro Airport to other Oregon sites. 

The project advisory committee met for the first time Thursday night. 

The Hillsboro Airport is home to about 375 aircraft. It had about 224,000
takeoffs and landings last year, making it the state's second-busiest. 

As the Washington County economy grew in the 1990s, particularly the
high-tech sector, airport operations increased. As a general aviation
airport with two runways, it includes charter flights, private recreational
planes, corporate jets and several flight schools, the busiest of which is
Hillsboro Aviation. 

The Port has launched a two-year effort to update the airport's master plan,
which was last tweaked in 1996, and its compatibility study, which was last
updated in 1993. The Port has hired Coffman Associates of Kansas City, Mo.,
for $505,168 to do the aviation planning. 

The committee is scheduled to meet four times. The next meeting has not been
set, but probably will be in late October. At that meeting, the committee is
to review four chapters of the master plan, including an analysis of the
feasibility of commercial and cargo flights, forecasts of the number and
types of aircraft using the airport, and what new facilities would be
needed. 

Several committee members said they viewed their role as balancing the
interests of the business community with that of airport neighbors. Four
members of the 17-person committee represent residents, while the rest are
business and government representatives. 

Vaughn Brown, a Port consultant, assured committee members that the Port is
not asking members to rubber-stamp a plan already in mind. 

"I don't think the Port has a hidden agenda here," Brown said. 

Committee member Charlie Riordan of the Oregon Department of Aviation said
when the economy improves, the Hillsboro Airport could handle some of
Portland International Airport's overflow cargo flights. 

That elicited a groan from several audience members. They say air traffic at
Portland International has declined in recent years, leaving the Hillsboro
Airport with no excess to pick up. 

Total operations at Portland International, which includes all takeoffs and
landings, have been declining since 1997, when there were 329,745, said
Steve Johnson, a Port spokesman. Last year, there were 276,875 takeoffs and
landings.

Neighbors also said the Hillsboro Airport has more than its share of
helicopter flights. 

Marc Ahrendt, who lives on Northeast Molly Street about a half-mile east of
the airport, presented the committee with a petition signed by 117 neighbors
who say they are frustrated by the noise from the Bravo helicopter training
pattern. 

Ahrendt said he knew there was an airport nearby when he bought his home in
1997. But things have changed. 

"There's been a significant increase in helicopter noise in that area," he
said.


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